Conservation Compass

Spotlight Stories

Explore IAWA’s original reporting on the latest conservation news

  • Iowa’s not flat?! How glaciers formed a hilly RAGBRAI route

    Posted on

    RAGBRAI riders will bike through six out of seven landform regions in Iowa, many created by glaciers more than 13,000 yeras ago. They not only created a challenge for cyclists, but also for conservation due to unique soils and landscapes. Dan Looker, IAWA writer and RAGBRAI enthusiast, describes the route’s unique geography riders will see.…

    Posted in

  • 2022 Grassland CRP signup 22 percent higher than last year

    Posted on

    DES MOINES, Iowa (USDA) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting offers for more than 3.1 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners through this year’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grassland Signup, the highest in history. The signup’s results include more than 200 acres in Iowa. This program allows producers and landowners…

    Posted in

  • Northwest Iowa family builds international success with fertilizer technology

    Posted on

    From the machine shed to the international market, Roger Montag built a business that’s improving water quality – and nearly the entire family of ten now helps run. This article is part of a special Father’s Day Series. By Rebekah Jones When Roger Montag started building his own farming equipment in the 80’s, he never…

    Posted in ,

  • Dad inspires sons to embrace change on the farm

    Posted on

    From no-till in the 90’s, to cover crops 10 years ago, and now a new seed cleaning business, the Helland family embraced farm conservation one strategic step at a time – and it paid off. This story is part of a special Father’s Day series. By Dan Looker  Along with a law career that included…

    Posted in

  • Legacy is a gift, but it’s not guaranteed

    Posted on

    A note from Iowa Corn’s CEO and IAWA Board Chair about the power of conservation on his family’s row-crop operation By Craig Floss, CEO of Iowa Corn Growers Association and Iowa Corn Promotion Board as well as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance At Iowa Corn Growers Association, we…

    Posted in

  • Conservation agronomists: the bridge between farm sustainability and profitability

    Posted on

    By Kaitlin Little  Five years ago, the job title “conservation agronomist” didn’t even exist. Now it’s a growing network expanding across the state, thanks to Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) efforts to build a trustworthy conservation source for farmers.  Conservation agronomists are agronomic experts who can help farmers with decisions that both improve profitability and water…

    Posted in ,

  • Manure on the Mind: a year-round approach to better yields & water quality

    Posted on

    By IAWA staff If this spring’s fuel and fertilizer costs have taught us anything about farming, it’s how to do more with less and to tap into innovative ideas to save money, improve yields, and improve water quality. “Iowa’s farmers already pride themselves on utilizing their manure in the most efficient way possible. But the…

    Posted in

  • Now accepting applications for 5th annual IAWA Iowa Watershed Awards

    Posted on

    Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance to honor three people dedicated to water quality in 2022 Do you know someone who is making an impact on Iowa’s water quality? The Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) and partners want your help in recognizing watershed coordinators and other dedicated individuals for exceptional work to improve water quality and implement…

    Posted in

  • Mother’s Day Series: raising strong children with work ethic and respect for the land

    Posted on

    By Kristy Gibbs, Guest Writer *Editor’s note: This post is part of a Mother’s Day series featuring mothers in ag and on the farm. Kristy Gibbs farms with her family in Delaware County in northeast Iowa and has added multiple conservation practices to their farm. As a wife and mother, there is no greater gift…

    Posted in

  • Mother’s Day series: a mother’s impact on the farm and future generations

    Posted on

    By Bailey Klein, Guest Writer *Editor’s note: This post is part of a Mother’s Day series featuring mothers in ag and on the farm. Bailey Klein farms with her family in Bremer County in northeast Iowa and has added multiple conservation practices to their farm. First off, I just wanted to wish all the mothers…

    Posted in

Recent Posts

Catch up on our Spotlight Stories.